Display carton



Dec. 17, 1935.

H. K. POWELL 2,924,7@2

DISPLAY CARTON Filed April le, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. I7-, 1935. H. K. POWELL 2,024,702

DI SPLAY CARTON Filed April 16, 1.934 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATS 'i' GFFECE DISPLAY CARTON Illinois Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,696

3 Claims.

'The present invention pertains to cartons con- 'structed of brous material such as cardboard and has particular reference to an improvement in cartons of the type adapted for displaying merchandise.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an effective 'display device for use in connection with cartons.

An additional object is the provision of a brous carton or container having a top portion or cover for protecting merchandise, which cover may be folded into the form of a particularly desirable display mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a carton having a display device which may be used on a counter or shelf Without hiding other merchandise adjacent the carton.

A further object is to provide a carton having a triangular display device which may contain advertising matter or even merchandise itself in such a manner as to present the advertising matter or merchandise to the eye of the prospective customer at an advantageous angle. These and other objects will be evident from a consideration of the following illustrative and explanative specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a carton constructed in accordance with my invention and having its cover portion in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Fig. 1 and shows the top or cover portion folded into the form of a display device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken alo-ng line Li-li of Fig. 2 and in addition includes the showing of a modified 'form of the carton adapted for holding merchandise in the display device;

'Fig 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a carton of a different type and having a cover foldable into the form of a display device in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 7 is a view of the blank from which the carton shown in Figs. l to 5 is produced; and

Fig. 8 is a View of the blank from which the carton shown in Fig. 6 is produced.

Heretofore it has been recognized as advantageous to provide a carton operable to contain merchandise for shipping and storing purposes, and having a top or cover portion which may be folded into such ya form. as to enhance the display value of the carton When positioned on a shelf or display case by the merchant. In some cases the cover is folded beneath the container to tilt the carton forwardly. Patent No. 1,685,606, issued September 25, 1928, discloses a carton of this type. the carton in many cases with a'cover portion which may be folded upon itself to form an upstanding sheet upon which may be printed advertising matter such as pictures of merchandise to be displayed. A principal example of this 10.

latter type of display container is described in Patent No. 1,513,318. In this patent it will be noted that the cover of the container is scored in its center and folded into the form of a backwardly extending display device. objection which has prevented cartons of 'this type from being properly commercialized is that the backwardly extending cover prevents the carton from being utilized on a more or less crowded shelf, due to the hiding of othermerchandise zo by the cover. Also, the backwardly extending cover was free to pivot about the score line which joins the cover to the rear wall of the carton, thereby causing the display device to be unstable. Often, the xed angle at which the display device presented advertisingmatter was not properly suited for the use to which the carton was put.

in accordance with my invention cartons of the type described are provided with a highly desirable display device by scoring the top or cover of the carton along a plurality of transverse lines dividing the cover into sections, the rearmost of which is of less width than half the width of the carton. The free edge of the cover is provided with a locking flap, whereby the cover may be folded into substantially triangular shape with the rearmost section in vertical position, the front and base sections of the triangle being biased, due to the resiliency of the material used, in such a way as to cause the rearmost section and the rear wall of the carton with whichY the rear section is integrally connected to bulge outwardly. This bulging prevents the rear or vertical section of the display device from being folded backwardly beyond vertical position, thereby alfording a strong and rigid display device which may he used on a shelf upon which it is desired to display other merchandise and which, due to the angle of the legs of the triangle, displays the printed matter at a highly advantageous angle.

As shown in '7, the carton is composed of a blank suitably cut, scored and folded to form a bottom lli, side walls l! and l2, a front wall I3, and a rear wall It. The rear wall has inte- It has also been the custom to provide 5.,

A particular 15.

grally connected thereto a top or cover member I5. Side wall II has an integral forwardly extending ap i6 provided with an opening I1 and side I2 has a similar flap I8 and opening I9.

To the freev end of the front wall I3 is joined a closing flap 25 having an intermediate score line 2| and notches 22 along its free edge, it being understood that the opposing flap 2G is separated from the front wall by means of a score line 23.

Side Wall II is also provided with a foldable ap 24 and side wall i2 is provided with a similar vertical flap 25, the function of these latter flaps to be described more particularly hereinafter.

T0 the rear edge of side Wall is integrally secured a rear locking flap 26 which is cut along the line 21 in order to receive a complementary locking ap 28, the latter being integrally secured to side wall I2.

The cover member I4 along a score line l5 is joined to the rear wall 29. At the lopposite end of the cover member is a locking ilap 3i! joined to the cover member along a. score line 3|. Intermediate the score lines 29 and 3| are provided additional transverse score lines 32 and 33, which divide the cover into a section 34 adjacent the cover-locking flap, an intermediate section 35, and anY inner section 35 adjacent the rear wall. It will be noted that the section 36 is of less width than half the width of the carton.

To erect the carton the side walls I I and I2 are rotated about the score lines by which they are integrally connected with the bottom member into substantially vertical position. Flaps |6 and I 8 lare then rotated toward each other and the front wall I3 is rotated upwardly in front of the flaps I 6 and |8, the long nap 2!) .being then folded over flaps I6 and I8 and the notches 22 engaged into openings I1 and I3 to complete the setting up of the front portion of the carton. The rear wall I4 then is rotated upwardly into substantially vertical position and the flaps 26 and 28 are folded on the outside of the rear wall, the

- flap 28 being interlocked in cut 21 of the flap 26 to complete the erection of the carton.

'I'o close the carton the flaps 24 and 25 are folded into horizontal position and the cover member I5 is rotated about score line 29 by which it is secured to the rear wall into horizontal position, the cover-locking ap 36 being pressed downwardly between the front ends of ilaps 24 and 25 'and the front wall. Before closing the cover it is customary to fill the carton with merchandise for shipping, storing or similar purposes.

When it is desired to use the carton for display purposes the flap 30 is released from engagement with the flaps 24 and'25 and the front wall, and the coveris bent into triangular shape by rotating sections and 34 about score lines 32 and 33. The cover-locking strip 3| is rotated downwardly in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of sections 34 and 35 and theV flap 30 is inserted between the rear ends of ilaps 24 and 25 and the rear wall I4. When this operation has been completed the cover assumesthe Vshape and position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. In such position it will be noted that the section 34, constituting the base or' the triangle, engages the upper portion of flaps 24 and 25, maintaining them in down position and thereby preventing the release of flap 36. Y

The effectiveness of this embodiment of my improved display device is due to a considerable extermediate leg 35 and the base section 36 is less I than 90. The nature of cardboard is such that when bent along the score line it will tend to return to the last 90 position through which it was turned or bent. Therefore, in the display device as shown in Fig. 2 the flap 38 tends to pressv the base portion outwardly and is held against such action by flaps 24 and 25. The base section 34 tends to straighten out along score line 32 and, as the ap 3|! is held against movement, the leg presses back against the vertical section 36 of the display device. The intermediate leg 35 tends to return to a position at right angles to the vertical section of the triangle and also produces a backwardly pressing eITect. Thecornbination of the resilient effects of the triangular sections causes the entire rear wall I4 and the upstanding section 36 cf the display device to assume a bowed or bulging shape,'as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Rotation of the substantially vertical section 36 of the triangle about the score line to which it is joined to the rear wall I4 is prevented by this bulging of the rear Wall.

In a preferred modification of the device, the

downwardly and forwardly extending intermediate section 35 is the widest of the triangular sections, and the base section 34 is the most narrow section of the device. In this modification the upper angle formed between the vertical section and the intermediate section is more acute than the forward angle between the intermediate section and the base section.

In certain instances it is desirable to make a more eiective display of merchandise than can be obtained by the carton itself. In accordance with my invention, it is possible toprovide the downwardly and forwardly extending intermediate section 35 with a cut-out portion 31, as shown in Fig. 4, which may be rotated about the score line 32 to provide an opening in the triangular display device for reception of merchandise to be displayed. It will be understood that the merchandise to be displayed is positioned on top of the downwardly rotated section 31 and that the walls of the section 35 constitute a support for the merchandise.

The display device may be applied to cartons of the type in which stapling or other securing methods are employed. In the modification of the display device as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, a blank is suitably cut, scored and folded to form bottom flaps 4I, 42 and 43 secured respectively to a front wall 44, a side wall 45, a rear wall 46 and a second side wall 41. Side walls and 41 are provided with flaps 48 and 49 which function in the same manner as flaps 24 and '25 in the modification of. the carton shown in Fig. 1. To the upper edge of rear wall 46 is attached an integral cover member 50 of similar construction to the cover member I5, The cover 50 includes a vertical leg 5|, a downwardly and forwardly extending intermediate leg 52, and a backwardly extending base leg 53, these various legs or sections being separated by suitable score lines inthe manner described heretofore with respect to the carton shown in Fig. 1. To the free end of base section 53 is attached a cover-locking flap 54 which is engaged between iiaps 58 and it and the front Wall when the cover is in closed position. To set the carton up for display purpose the cover is rotated into triangular shape about the score lines between the various sections and the ap is locked between the iiaps i8 and d@ in the rear wall. in this modification it will be noted that there is no supporting wall back of the lrear wall lid, as is the case in the carton shown in Fig. l. lThe action of the various sections of the triangular display mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 8 causes the rear wall and vertical section 5i to bulge outwardly in the same manner as the modication described hereinbefore, thereby maintaining the display mechanism in rigid setup condition.

Various modifications of the structure described hereinbefore are possible without departing from the scope of my invention. For instance, in certain cases it may be found desirable to employ a display device of the type described vvhich is separate from the carton with Which it is adapted to be used. In such cases, the substantially verticai rear section of the triangular display mechanism may be pressed inside the rear wall of the carton, as will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. This and all other such changes and variations in the strucn ture described hereinbeiore for purposes of eX- planation are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display container of the type described, comprising a iibre body portion having a bottom, side walls, iront and rear walls, a display member extending upwardly from the rear wall and composed of a fibre sheet adapted to form a cover for the container when in unfolded condition, said sheet being scored and folded into triangular shape with a substantially vertical back section, a downwardly and inwardly extending front section, and a backwardly extending base section, a flap on the free end of said base section, and means for holding said flap adjacent the rear wall, said back section and rear wall being in backwardly bowed shape.

2. A display container of the type described, comprising a nbre body portion having a rear wall bent into backwardly bowed shape, a rear top section extending upwardly from said rear wall in backwardly bowed shape and forming one leg of a triangular display inember, and other legs for said dispiay member secured to said backwardly bowed rear top section.

3. A display container of the type described, comprising a fibrous body portion having a rear wall and a top section connected thereto along a score line, said top section being intermittently scored and folded under tension into display shape with a vertical portion adjacent said rear wall holding the latter in outwardly bowed shape.

HENRY K. POWELL. 

